Champagne is one of the world’s most sophisticated celebratory drinks. Whether you enjoy a glass of bubbly or a champagne cocktail regularly or pop the cork on special occasions, understanding champagne etiquette, knowing the best way of opening champagne and having the right champagne glasses at hand to serve the sparkles is essential. The serving of champagne does matter and will enhance your overall drinking experience. So, what are our champagne serving tips?
Here’s a look at how to drink Champagne, the best temperature for Champagne, and the dos and don’ts when serving this well-loved sparkling beverage.
Opening and Serving Champagne
Champagne is a special drink often served on memorable occasions. It's perfect for weddings, celebrations, or simply having friends over for a social gathering.
Opening a champagne bottle is always a highlight. Care should be taken to ensure the characteristic "pop" of the cork is done correctly, preventing too many bubbles from escaping the bottle.
Opening champagne is the start of the celebratory ritual, so here’s how to open a Champagne bottle correctly, a skill that can take time to master!
- Holding the bottle firmly, carefully remove the foil cap that covers the wire cage and cork.
- While keeping a grip on the cork to prevent it from popping, untwist and remove the wire cage from the top of the bottle.
- Keeping one hand on the cork and the other on the bottle, angle the bottle away from you, ensuring you are not aiming the top at yourself, or any guests.
- Twist the champagne bottle, not the cork! Keeping a firm grip on the cork, start gently twisting the base of the bottle until you hear the sign (not a pop!) of the cork releasing. If you wish, you can hold the cork with a small, clean towel for a better grip.
- Once the cork is free, hold the bottle at its base and slowly pour the contents into tilted champagne glasses to avoid excessive foaming.
- Enjoy! Raise your glass before taking the first sip to appreciate the drink's aroma, then toast the moment.
Best Temperature for Champagne
Do you drink champagne cold? It’s a question that’s often asked, as if it's too warm, it can taste overly alcoholic and too cold, and you risk muting the subtle aroma and finer nuances of the drink.
The correct temperature for champagne is between 8 and 10 degrees, which is best achieved by placing it in one of our Glacier champagne coolers filled with ice and water for twenty to thirty minutes before serving. Remember that choosing the right glassware is also important, and chilling champagne glasses in advance will help regulate the temperature of the champagne so you can enjoy it at its best.
Understanding the Champagne Glass Design
Pairing the right glassware with any drink you want to enjoy is important, especially with premium and sparkling beverages like champagne.
There are two main types of stemmed champagne glasses: long, fluted champagne glasses and those with a wide top. Both designs are the epitome of elegance, and choice largely comes down to personal taste. However, the shape and design of the glass do affect the overall drinking experience.
Stem
Fine crystal champagne glasses and tulip champagne glasses, like those from the NUDE Stem Zero and Ghost Zero range, are the most popular glasses for serving champagne. Their long, fluted, and stemmed design helps prolong the effervescence of the drink, so the bubbles and aroma last longer.
Bowl
In contrast to champagne flutes, champagne coupe glasses feature a shallow, wide top. This design became popular from the 1940s onwards, and movie stars of the time were often seen sipping champagne from this style of glass. This vintage design may not be as practical or as good at preserving the sparkles as its fluted alternative, but the design is glamorous, retro, and fun, and champagne cocktails do look fabulous in this type of glass.
How NOT to Hold a Champagne Glass!
Yes, there is a right and a wrong way to hold a champagne glass!
Champagne connoisseurs will never be caught holding a glass by its bowl or rim. This is because the heat from your hand can raise the temperature of the contents and affect the taste, sparkles, and smell. The correct way to handle a champagne glass is to hold it near the base of the stem.
Champagne Etiquette – Do’s and Don’ts
Navigating high society and champagne etiquette can seem like a tall order, especially if you are attending or hosting a special occasion and want to make the right impression. To help you along, here are a few tips to ensure you keep champagne faux pars to a minimum:
Champagne Do’s:
Always hold your champagne glass by the stem and take sips to savor the flavor; never gulp.
Pour champagne slowly into a tilted glass to preserve the effervescence.
Maintain the bubbles and aroma by serving champagne in tulip champagne glasses.
Chill the champagne before serving.
Pair champagne with light foods, canapes, and delicate tastes that complement its flavor.
Champagne Don’ts:
Never overfill a champagne glass; fill it to just over half.
Don’t shake the champagne bottle before serving; it will create too many bubbles and may explode!
Don’t hold the glass by its rim or the bowl, as it can affect the temperature and bubbles in the glass.
4 Mistakes People Make When Serving Champagne
As we have seen, champagne etiquette is an art, and it’s easy to make mistakes. If you are planning to host a social event and serve champagne, here are a few common mistakes to avoid:
- Serving warm champagne. To avoid loss of bubbles and taste, serve champagne at a temperature of no more than 10 degrees.
- Serving champagne in the wrong glassware. Make sure you use the right glasses for champagne, ideally fluted glasses from the NUDE champagne glass range.
- Pouring the champagne too quickly. To avoid excess fizz and foam, make sure you pour champagne into a glass gently and at a tilted angle.
- Not storing champagne correctly. How to store champagne should be another consideration. To avoid fluctuations in temperature, keep the bottles in a cool, dark place away from sunlight. Cool the champagne in a champagne cooler or ice bucket for half an hour before serving.
By sticking to these simple guidelines, using the right glassware, and avoiding common mistakes, you should always be ready to attend or host a champagne party.
